Friday Favorites - March 8, 2013

Howdy, friends!  I hope you've had a wonderful week!  I can't complain too much, though I am glad to see the end of this one.  I'm looking forward to spending the weekend with my sweet husband, who rarely gets both Saturday and Sunday off.  St. Louis is supposed to have a 65-degree Saturday - Yippee!!  I think I've talked Bill into going car shopping with me.  I've got a 1996 Corolla with 228,000 miles on it.  I think we may be on borrowed time.  I hope we'll find something that we like so we can start hunting for the best deal.  Wish us luck!  In the meantime, here are some cool things I want to share with you.

Favorite sweet:  Chocolate Mint Pretzel Bites  These are so cute and they look so yummy!

Favorite pup:  A soul this sweet  There is something so beautiful about an older dog, don't you think?  It's like they've stored up all the love they've been given and they can impart it to you with just a look.  Amazing, special creatures...and more proof of God's love.

 

Favorite quote:  Poe  I've always loved him, and I always will.

 

Favorite yum:  Avocado hummus  I actually made my very first batch of classic hummus this week, and I liked it.  I can't wait to try this hummus recipe!

 

Favorite garnish:  Raw amethyst slice necklace  Maybe it's because my high school colors were purple and white ( GO CHIEFS!), but I LOVE this necklace!  What a lovely statement piece this would be.



Favorite funny:  Hokey Pokey addiction  I've turned myself around.  HA!

 

Favorite unexpected artwork:  framed doilies  Wouldn't this be lovely to do with any handmade textiles you might have inherited from grandma or great-grandma?  I had a grandmother who tatted, crocheted, quilted, etc., etc.  I think this is a wonderful idea and a way to keep her close in heart.

Favorite DIY:  fan blades  I wish I'd thought of this!

 

Favorite new routine:  Good Karma skincare set from Pacifica.  I love the way the new cleanser and moisturizer make my face feel.  The BB cream is nice when you don't want to put on heavy makeup, and the Guava Berry lip balm makes for soft, silky lips.  I highly recommend this set!

 

Favorite new song:  "All Over Again" from In Time by The Mavericks.  This is one terrific album!  It's so great to see The Mavericks back together again.  Check it out for some great new alt-country tunes.



Enjoy your weekend -- and don't forget to spring forward!

Chris

Friday Favorites - 2/22/13

Hi, friends!  Hope you've had a good week.  We had a bit of a weather scare here in the Lou on Thursday, but everything turned out all right.  And the best news?  It's Friday again and time for another installment of Friday Favorites here on the blog.  So here are a few of the good things I've found around the web this week.

Favorite jewels:  summer rain
Aren't these the cutest things?!  Perfect for spring...which I *know* is just around the corner.




Favorite yum:  mini German pancakes
I've been craving all things breakfast lately, and these certainly fit the bill.  That triple berry sauce looks to die for!



Favorite wisdom:  begin again
This applies to every area of life, doesn't it.



Favorite footwear:  Bow Tied by Shabby Apple

I love this navy and yellow color combo.  And the polka dots.  You can't go wrong with polka dots.


Favorite funny:  admired by your pears
I literally laughed at this for two straight minutes.  Spelling matters, people!  ;-)




Favorite furryfriends:  your kissing skills
Two of my dogs do this all the time.  I guess Bill and I need to teach them how to kiss better.  LOL!



Favorite flowers:  Easter bouquet
Can you tell I'm wishing for spring??  With all my heart...


Favorite recycle:  old frame
I know it's still being used as a frame, but I really like the look of the smaller pic inside this old frame.  I wonder what stories it could tell.



Favorite snuggly place:  Got the Blues
I love the colors and the shading on this beautiful quilt.



Favorite graphic:  a rose for the lady
Reminds me of Norma Desmond from Sunset Boulevard.

Best Burger in Town

Hi there!  It's been a long, long time since I've posted anything - sorry! - but I hope this recipe I'm about to share will make up for it.  :-)

I think this may be the BEST burger recipe out there.  I made these for the second time last week and they were even better than Bill and I remembered!  They contain the best burger seasoning combo I know of - garlic salt and Worcestershire sauce.

French Onion Burgers (adapted from Food Network Magazine)

 

Believe me, this picture doesn't do them justice!

 

Ingredients

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1 large onion, halved and thinly sliced
1/2 teaspoon sugar
Kosher salt
1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth
2 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 1/2 pounds ground beef (I recommend 80/20)
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon garlic salt
4 brioche or hamburger buns, split
1 cup shredded gruyere cheese
2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
Dijon mustard, lettuce and potato chips, for serving (optional)

Directions

Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring, until it starts to brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the sugar and 1/2 teaspoon salt, reduce the heat to medium low and cook, stirring occasionally, until deep golden, 15 more minutes. Add the chicken broth and 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce and simmer until the onion is tender and the liquid is almost evaporated, 8 minutes.

Preheat the broiler. Mix the beef, onion powder, garlic salt and the remaining 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce in a bowl with your hands. Form into four 3/4-inch-thick patties and place on a broiler pan. Make an indentation in the center of each with your thumb; season the patties with salt. Broil, turning once, 5 minutes.

Place the buns cut-side up on a baking sheet. Sprinkle with both cheeses and broil until melted, about 1 minute. Spread mustard on the buns; sandwich with lettuce, the burgers and caramelized onion. Serve with potato chips.

Friday Favorites - 9/14/12

Has this not been the SLOWEST week?!  My goodness, I kept thinking it was a day later than it really was.  Oh, well, we finally made it!  Hope you've had a good one.  Here are some things I found amusing this week.

Favorite New Song:  Candy by Robbie Williams

I've been a fan of RW for about 10 years now, ever since I saw the video for "Millenium" on VH1.  This is his new single, and it's catchy as can be.  I love me some Brit Pop!



Favorite return:  Diet Sierra Mist Cranberry Splash Soda
My favorite soda in the whole world is back on the shelves!!!  I will end up drinking my weight in this, just you wait and see.  :-)



Favorite Halloween idea:  Lace covered candles to cast a lovely, eerie glow...I CANNOT WAIT for Halloween to get here.



Favorite work outfit:  Classic cardigan and pencil skirt.  Still on trend and cute but very classically styled.  Love it!



Favorite memory:  Swinging
I had a swingset in my backyard growing up, and I would swing and sing at the top of my lungs for hours on end.  Mostly the Grease soundtrack as I recall.  :-)



Favorite funny:  Fortress
I love that expression!



Favorite comfort food:  Salisbury Steak in the Crockpot
How good would this be to come home to on a cool fall day?!



Favorite want:  Arrow bracelet
It's bad to covet, I know, but I *really* want this!



Favorite sweetie-pie:  pup in a blanket
I want to wake up to this precious face on a Saturday morning. 


Favorite inspiration:  Adventurers
Oh, Darling, let's go!

Friday Favorites - 8/31/12

Here's what I'm digging this week:

My new favorite song:  "Don't Leave Me (Ne Me Quitte Pas)" by Regina Spektor
This is one of the most infectious melodies I've heard in a long time. I've gone to see two movies in the past three weeks, and both times this song was featured in the pre-movie ads. Love it!

   








Favorite Wisdom:  Smooth Sea
It sure is wonderful when life goes your way, but a little adversity makes you learn things that you might never have learned otherwise...



Favorite Dessert:  Apple Cupcakes with Caramel Buttercream
A perfect bit of fall sweetness!



Favorite Funny:  As You Wish
A bit of geeky humor from moi?  Inconceivable!!! ;-)





Favorite Outfit:  Cute and Casual
Gray and yellow - one of my favorite combinations.  I would totally wear this.  In fact, I think I might have to shop for just such an outfit this week!




Favorite Gothicness:  Lady in Black
Beautiful, eerie photo that makes me want to know more about this lady and her lost love.



Favorite bedding:  Plum & Gray Bouquet Duvet from Urban Outfitters
Gray and chevron?  Yes please!!



Favorite Truth:  No Reason
All 3 of my dogs follow this philosophy, and my neighbors hate me for it!



Favorite party idea: lemon boat
Such a cute placecard for a summer party!



Favorite color combo:  yellow and turquoise
I've fallen for yellow in a big way this year.  In fact, Bill and I painted our dining room a yellow very much like this - that's probably why this picture makes me smile. 



Enjoy your weekend, friends!

Chris

Meal Plan: August 27 - August 31

How about some dinner-time inspiration?  Here's what the Perkinses are having this week.

Monday:  Pasta with Pancetta and Leeks from Pioneer Woman



Tuesday:  Mexican Salad from A Zesty Bite



Wednesday:  Chick-fil-a Bites with Honey Mustard Dressing from Iowa Girl Eats



Thursday:  Grilled Mozzarella Sandwiches from Martha Stewart
Someone on Pinterest suggested serving these with marinara sauce. Sounds good to me!


Friday:  Broccoli, Mushroom & Mustard Pizza from Good Things Grow



Enjoy your own culinary pursuits this week!

Chris

Front Foyer

Hey there!  It's been a long time since I posted anything.  Life got in the way...you know how it goes.  Anywhoo, I actually accomplished something I'm kind of proud of today -- I recovered the little chair in my foyer.

Check out the before:

 

 

This chair has been in my dad's family for about 100 years.  From what I understand, it belonged to my dad's grandmother.  It passed to her daughter (my Grandma Hagan), then to her daughter (my Aunt Curly), and then to my mom, and then to me!  It's a perfect little perch to put on shoes or to set down a bag.

I decided it needed a bit of an update to fit in with the new look of our foyer.  I found a beautiful piece of white chevron fabric from Nautica at JoAnn's a couple of weeks ago.  It was on *super* sale, so I nabbed it!

 

 

I'm not 100% happy with my front corners, but I'm gonna live with it for now.  :-)

Here's the after:

 

And here's the finishing touch I added to it:

 

 

A gift from my friend Gretchen that I just love!

 

The foyer as a whole:
 

 

On the opposite side, here's what you'll find:

 

 I think it turned out rather well (though I may be prejudiced).  Hee hee!